Nigeria records first deaths from H1N1 influenza

Abuja: Nigeria has reported its first swine
flu deaths as two people, including a woman, died after being
infected with the virus, even as the country`s health ministry
has asked for extra precaution against the deadly disease.

"As at January 18, 2010, Nigeria has recorded 11
laboratory confirmed cases of H1N1 Influenza with two deaths
from the pandemic," Nigeria`s minister of Health, Babatunde
Osotimehin, said including an earlier case on December 5 last
year whereby a suspected patient had died.

He urged anybody who suspects having symptoms of the
disease to report to the health care delivery institution for
proper medical check-up.

The most recent case of H1N1 influenza was a 38-year-old
female living in Lagos who was said to have travelled to the
United States about three months ago.

She died on Tuesday January 5, 2010 at Reddington
Hospital Victoria Island, Lagos, after reporting sick six
weeks ago.

Osotimehin said his department, in collaboration with the
Lagos State Ministry of Health, had collected samples from the
index case and the victim`s contacts for further analysis and
eight out of the 40 samples of close contacts collected were
found to be positive of Influenza A H1N1.

He also announced enhanced disease surveillance like
vigorous case search in designated health facilities in all
the 36 states of the federation including the capital Abuja.